IPL 2014 Auctions: Five players who should have been retained

David Warner – Will the Daredevils’ wish come true?

The Australian opener has been a fairly consistent performer for the Daredevils. Even though he is on their wish-list, the pocket-sized dynamo should have been an automatic choice for retention. With Virender Sehwag struggling to find some form, and a side that desperately needs a revival in fortunes, one would have expected the franchise to get Warner on board, before the others swarmed in.

It didn’t happen.

In cricket’s shortest format, you need a lot of firepower in both batting and bowling. Warner, by cricketing nature, is highly aggressive and can change the course of a match single-handed. An outstanding fielder in the deep as well, Warner is a useful part-time leg-break bowler too, though he rarely bowls at the international level.

I might have agreed with Delhi’s decision to go for a clean slate. But, by over-looking the Australian dasher, they may have just shot themselves in the foot, because the bidding for this guy will be fierce, even if the Daredevils exercise their three RTM cards.